TIBETAN BulletiN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CENTRAL TIBETAN ADMINISTRATION VOLUME 23 - ISSUE 2 MARCH - APRIL 2019 Focus Our Presence Here is Testament that the Spiritual Struggle for Free Tibet Lives On and Victory is Certain: Former Botswana President Ian Khama **** Feature ‘The world needs SEE learning more than ever’: Founders of SEE learning at Global launch of SEE Project **** World Press Why is China so terrified of Tibetan language classes? **** www.tibet.net/en/tibbul www.tibet.net/en/tibbul FOCUS TIBETAN 11 Our Presence Here is Testament that the Spiritual Struggle for Free Tibet Lives On and Victory is Certain: Former Botswana President Ian Khama BULLETIN Tibetan Bulletin is an offi cial bi-monthly 13 Statement of HE Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Former President of journal of the Central Tibetan Administration. Botswana on the 60th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day 15 Honouring 60 Years of Tibetan Nonviolent Struggle, World Leaders call China to Embrace Dalai Lama and Middle Way Approach FEATURE 19 His Holiness the Dalai Lama Converses with Members of Club 1880 Signed articles or quotations do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Central 20 SEE Learning: The Dalai Lama’s Gift to Humanity Tibetan Administration. 21 ‘The world needs SEE learning more than ever’: Contributions are welcome and may be Founders of SEE learning at Global launch of SEE Project addressed to the editor, Tibetan Bulletin. However the publisher regrets its inability 22 ‘Taking Care of Others is Taking Care of Yourself’: to return unused articles unless they are His Holiness Concludes Workshop on SEE Learning accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with adequate postage. 23 His Holiness the Dalai Lama Addresses Youth Global Leaders Tibetan Bulletin is distributed free of charge. To subscribe please email the circulation manager or see back cover. Editor WORLD PRESS Tenzin Saldon Email: tibetpressoffi [email protected] 25 Why is China so terrifi ed of Tibetan language classes? Asst. Editor Tenzin Phende By Sang Jieja Layout & Design 26 China’s Cultural Revolution Might Soon Reappear in Tibet Tenzin Phende By Flora Yan, The Epoch Times Circulation Manager Norbu Wangdue 28 After 60 years in exile, Dalai Lama’s still remembered in his homeland Email: [email protected] Tibetan Bulletin is published by: By Christopher Bodeen Washington Post Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala - 176 215 H.P. India Tel: +91-1892-222510 / 222457 Vol. 23 Issue 2 REGULARS MARCH-APRIL 2019 News From Tibet & Exile ......4 Contact ................................. 31 Quotes ............................32 NEWS FROM TIBET & EXILE As Tibetans mark 30th birthday of Panchen Lama in Absentia, China is urged to release the 2nd highest Tibetan Spiritual Leader held captive for 24 years The rightful 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, Kunzik Gedhun Choekyi Nyima must be released and enthroned at his seat at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet, President Dr Lobsang Sangay said today. In a solemn ceremony at the headquarters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, hundreds of Tibetans and supporters marked the 30th birth-anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama in absentia. The second highest spiritual leader of the Tibetans after the Dalai Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was abducted by the Chinese authorities on 17 May 1995, just three days after His Holiness the Dalai Lama declared him to be the reincarnated Panchen Lama. He has not President Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing the celebration of the 30th birth anniversary of the 11th Panchen been heard from since. Lama and gratitude to the 10th Panchen Lama at Tsuglagkhang, 25 April 2019. Photo/Tenzin Phende/CTA Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years until his last breath. At the tender age of every Tibetan is an inspiration to all.” old then and remains today the youngest 24, he showed courage and submitted political prisoner in the world. the 70,000-Character Petition to Zhou In his categoric remarks, the Tibetan Enlai and other top Chinese leaders. president strongly criticised the Chinese The ceremony organised by the Central The petition recorded the atrocities government for brazen interference in Tibetan Administration also honoured suffered by Tibetans and the destruction the centuries-old Tibetan tradition of the legacy of the 10th Panchen Lama, unleashed on the Land of Snows since reincarnation particularly of the Dalai Lobsang Trinley Lhundrup Choekyi its invasion by the Peoples’ Liberation Lamas and Panchen Lamas and stated Gyaltsen. Army,” he said. that China had no legitimate authority over religious and spiritual affairs of the On May 18, 1962, the 10th Panchen Tibetan people. Lama presented to Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders the 70,000 “It is absolutely ridiculous and Character Petition, a document that unacceptable for an offi cially atheist thoroughly assessed the nature of government and one with history of Chinese occupation in Tibet and outrageous persecution of religious, elaborately explained the Tibetan linguistic and basic rights of the Tibetan people’s grievances and suggested people to interfere in the centuries-old measures to uplift them from political Tibetan Buddhist religious tradition of President Dr Lobsang Sangay at the special photo repression. The petition also exposed reincarnation,” he said. exhibition on Panchen Lama showcased by the the Chinese government’s use of routine Tibet Museum, DIIR,. Photo/Tenzin Phende/CTA propaganda regarding revolution, He appealed the international community President Dr Sangay remembered the liberation, democratic reform and the to press China to ensure true freedom of great 10th Panchen Lama as a true so-called ‘socialist paradise’ as “pure religion and belief in Tibet and release martyr of Tibet who till his last breath deception.” the authentic 11th Kunsik Panchen committed to serving the aspirations of Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima as a the six million Tibetans and the noble Dr Sangay further said: “The 10th gesture of its true commitment towards wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Panchen Lama’s lifelong mission safeguarding freedom of religion and to protect and promote the spiritual, belief in Tibet. “The 10th Kunsik Panchen Lama fought political, social and economic wellbeing for the freedom and welfare of Tibetans of his beloved people and to fearlessly stand up for the freedom and dignity of MARCH - APRIL 2019 TIBETAN BULLETIN 3 NEWS FROM TIBET & EXILE As per His Holiness’ In view to further strengthen Kashag’s Detained Former steadfast commitment in recognising vision, Kashag and empowering Tibetan women and Tibetan Political enabling them to fully participate and committed to promote contribute towards the advancement of Prisoner Secretly Tibetan women as Tibetan society, a series of initiatives Sentenced to 18 Years, were launched within the Tibetan contributors to peaceful community. Wife to 2 Years leadership in 21st As part of its commitment to women century empowerment, CTA organised the ‘First Women’s Empowerment Conference’ in February 2017 at Dharamshala. The conference brought together around 300 participants, both women and men, from across the spectrum to discuss on Tibetan governance and leadership, mainstreaming gender perspective into the development process, social empowerment, and sexual and gender- CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay speaking at based violence. the general meeting organised by the Women’s empowerment desk, 12 March 2019. Photo/Tenzin To better enable Tibetan women to fully Jigme/DIIR contribute to the Tibetan society and the “The 15th Kashag’s Women world, the 15th Kashag led by President Empowerment Policy is committed to Dr Sangay revised the existing Tibetan realising His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Women Empowerment Policy which vision for Tibetan women as contributors was fi rst introduced in 2008 by the 13th Lodoe Gyatso, alias Sogkhar Lodoe. to global and peaceful leadership in the Kashag. News emerges from Tibet that Chinese 21st century,” said President Dr Lobsang authorities have sentenced Lodoe Sangay this Tuesday. Kalon Dr Pema Yangchen, Department Gyatso, a former Tibetan political of Education who also spoke at the prisoner, to 18 years in prison while his He was addressing a general meeting meeting, said women are successively wife has been given a two-year prison organised by the Women’s Empowerment advancing in all areas of society and term. Last year, on 28 January, Lodoe Desk of the Department of Finance, careers. Gyatso, alias Sogkhar Lodoe, staged Central Tibetan Administration. a peaceful solo protest in front of the She said women empowerment must Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet shouting Kalons of the Department of Religion fi rst come from full-embrace and slogans against Chinese government. and Culture, Finance, Education, celebration of women’s qualities of Security, Information & International compassion, empathy, loving-kindness. Lodoe Gyatso, 57, and his wife Gakyi Relations and Health presided over the She asked young women to own their were sentenced in secret in 2018 after his WED’s general meeting. successes and fi nd pride and confi dence 28 January protest, according to reliable as a woman with a key role in society. sources. News about the couple’s secret The meeting was organised to exchange sentences comes over a year after Lodoe ideas and solicit suggestions and The revised women empowerment Gyatso’s peaceful protest after which recommendations on the implementation policy outlines seven key points in Chinese authorities immediately arrested of the women’s empowerment policy its stated objective of making Tibetan him, leading to his arbitrary detention in formulated by the Central Tibetan women equal partners in all aspects Sog county, Nagchu Prefecture. Administration. of Tibetan society. The points include Women and human rights, Education, Gakyi, Lodoe Gyatso’s wife, has been “The implementation of gender equality Health, Economy, Governance and sentenced to two years allegedly for is embedded within all policies and rules Leadership, Social, and Sexual and fi lming the short video shot just before and regulations of CTA” President said.